The enduring image won't be the one you'd expect from Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

The portrait that everyone will remember from his stirring victory over Austin Trout will be of the Mexican slugger standing in the middle of the ring.

Bending at the waist, bobbing, weaving, playing “crazy bag” to Trout's assortment of punches.

Alvarez's capture of the unified light middleweight championship Saturday night at the Alamodome was as much a product of an ability to make his opponent miss as it was his capacity to inflict punishment.

“I was smart,” Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KOs) said in the ring afterward through an interpreter. “Little by little, I figured out how to fight him.”

Little by little, he frustrated Trout (26-1, 14 KOs) by giving him angles and wore him down with effective ring generalship and powerful, well-placed blows.

It was a complete and dominating performance by the 22-year-old red-haired, freckle-faced fighter, who was attempting to quiet critics who have questioned the quality of his opposition.

The 39,247 fans in attendance certainly seemed to appreciate the effort. The decidedly pro-Alvarez crowd appeared to hang on his every movement.

“San Antonio was a great atmosphere,” Alvarez said. “I heard the fans chanting. It was a great motivation for me.”

But it didn't come easily for Alvarez, who had to match wits with the southpaw Trout and also match the Las Cruces, N.M., fighter's speed.

He did both.

Alvarez was awarded a unanimous decision by scores of 115-112, 116-111 and 118-109.

CompuBox figures showed Trout landed 154 punches to 124 by Alvarez and out-jabbed him by a 59-28 margin.

But Alvarez's power proved decisive.

Although he managed only a slim 96-95 edge in power shots, the 154-pounder from Guadalajara hurt Trout several times with right hands and uppercuts.

Trout was staggered in the third and fourth rounds, then was sent sprawling to the canvas early in the seventh by a straight right to the chin in the only knockdown of the night.

“He caught me with his best shot; there's nothing else I can say,” said Trout, who was seeking to follow up on his win in December over Miguel Cotto. “I have no excuses. He was the better man tonight.”

Using a stiff jab and staying busy (throwing 769 punches to 431 for Alvarez), Trout remained competitive by countering with straight lefts that frequently found their mark.

But his power didn't earn the respect of Alvarez, who seemed to toy with Trout at times by his ability to make him miss.

Alvarez also was able to avenge a loss suffered by his brother Rigoberto at the hands of Trout in Guadalajara two years ago for the WBA 154-pound title.